Light Spectra Gained Habitats

The purpose of this experiment was to observe the light that the Tomopteris emits. They collected Tomopteris from Monterey Bay off the coast of California. They then stimulated the Tomopteris to produce light so that they could observe the light that it produced. The researchers took photos and measured the amount of light that was emitted per Tomopteris. One interesting discovery was a Tomopteris that emits a blue light which is rare since most Tomopteris emit a yellow-orange light. The researchers tried to create explanations as to why this Tomopteris emits blue light. They think that “different protein complements may be responsible for the light in different species”. However, this isn’t their only explanation for this rare blue emitting Tomopteris. The other explanation is that “this could potentially reflect different ecological roles of the two light colors”. Researchers concluded that with further testing the blue-light emitting Tomopteris may be considered a species of their own.

Behavior of Brine Shrimp in Habitat Selection Introduction: This experiment was developed primarily to find the optimal or preferred living conditions of adult brine shrimp. In this lab 3 variables were tested in different degrees to determine which the shrimp prefer. The different variables were light, ph, and temperature. From outside resources I have found that brine shrimp can survive in temperatures ranging from 4° Celsius to 40° Celsius with an optimal temperature of 20°-25°. So I hope to reinforce this research by testing its validity in the lab. From another outside source brine shrimp display positive photo taxis, which means that they are attracted to light. And finally from my last outside source I have found information that

Introduction: Terrestrial isopods, also known as pill bugs, are comprised of a variety of different species and are known for their adaptability to different environments, which have certain wavelengths of light and sufficient water and nutrients to survive (Danielson et. al. 1976). They are usually found in moist, dark areas because they are extremely vulnerable to dehydration and need a sufficient amount of water to survive (Wagler et. al. 2013).

This scientific study is relevant to today’s issues in biology/society due to the constant progression of civilization. As time moves forward there is always something, whether it is an environmental factor or a societal one, that affects the progression of the human race. Humans are either braving impacts brought on by each other, or issues concerning their lifestyle. For example, climate change is a pressing matter due to the increasing temperature of the atmosphere. Eventually this could effect life as we know it by forcing populations to migrate to a cooler environment. This is similar to the reefs and their adaptation to seascape factors due to the fact that individuals acclimate to circumstances affecting them. The species present in

Habitats range from tropical coral reefs, rocky shores, tidal pools, mud, and sand to kelp forests, seagrass meadows and the deep-sea floor down to at least 6,000 m (20,000 ft). The greatest diversity of species occurs in coastal areas. Also All echinoderms, including sea stars, live in the ocean-on the sea bottoms (although their larvae swim in the water column). They are among the few groups of animals which live exclusively in marine habitats. Starfish live in all the oceans! Like Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, and Southern

The Supra-littoral zone is one of the harshest terrains for organisms to exist in. The organisms that live in this region are facing problems like gas exchange, desiccation, temperature changes and feeding. It is only covered during storms and extremely high tides and is moistened by the spray of the breaking waves. Organisms are exposed to the drying heat of the sun in the summer and to extreme low temperatures in the winter. Because of these severe conditions, only a few resistant organisms live here. The dominate organisms that reside within this zone are Blue grey Periwinkles. Using Transect lines for over 30m, we evaluated the effects of several factors on this zone, including (1) predation, (2) herbivory, (3) plant—plant competition, (4) plant—animal competition, and (5) physical disturbance from high—energy waves. The interaction having the greatest effect on the structure of this zone was desiccation and high temperatures. However the Blue grey Periwinkle has been specially adapted to the harsh conditions of the dry upper littoral zone. They are able to trap water inside their shell to prevent moisture escaping, and cling to the rock face while the tide is out. As we can see from the abiotic data the temperature at the Supra littoral zone is also very high reaching 25 degrees compared to the other zones reaching only 20 degrees. Furthermore the special adaptations of the Blue Grey Periwinkle allow it to be the most dominant

Sköld et al (2012) indicates that many species can change in rapid succession from one color or pattern to another which is called a physiological color change, where the a continuous flow from the pigment organelles within the tinted cells of the chromatophores. These continuous flows within the cells allow the ectothermic vertebrates to change to a specific pattern or color. Many of these responses can be from an environmental stimulus but there are many that are from hormones. One such example which occurs in many species of fish, is a factor of ACTH with the target being MC1R, where upon the result was a color and pigment response of dark with dispersal of melanophores, erythrophoresn and xanthophores is an example (Sköld et al, 2012). There are many hormones within the body and many of them affect this rapid change in color but it is not only the hormones. Table 1, from Sköld et al (2012), also indicates that social interaction, light, cold conditions and some forms of leaning can also be seen in ectothermic vertebrates. Understanding the roles of the various hormones leads to further knowledge of how the pigmented cells conduct

Rimicaris exoculata has evolved to have specialized eye structure that directs them to the food source. Over generations, R. exoculata have evolved from their visual ancestors that had eyes into complete absences of eyes among the species inhabiting the deep-sea hydrothermal vents (6). However, R. exoculata have extremely modified eyes that are formed from a single dorsal organ (6). The black-body radiation from the eruption of the hydrothermal vents can be considered as the only source of light in the deep sea. R. exoculata are only able to detect the black-body radiation through their single dorsal organ. The previous study has stated that R. exoculate are not able to determine any physiological responses to light because the lights of submersible

The green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebrachiensis, exhibits covering behaviour, a neuromuscular behaviour enlisting their tube feet to lift objects from their environment onto their aboral surface; hypothesized to be a means of protection from UV radiation, wave surge and possibly predation. Three light treatments, were selected to evaluate the behavioural response of the sea urchins to different light intensities: (1) full light, (2) partial light (screened), (3) total darkness (control); this resulted in a positive correlation between covering behaviour and light intensity. Fragments

The responses varied depending on the original cell type of the explants, the most pronounced response were showing in gill and fin. The results suggest that communication signals leading to a typical radiation response can be passed from a fish to other and seem to involve secretion of a chemical messenger into the

When breeding, many male reef fishes display bright and showy color patterns. Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of this strategy.

D. longipes eyes can gather more light from larger angles compared to a regular fish’s eye. An increase of sensitivity in an eye can mean reduced spatial resolution, however in the deep-sea being able to detect any light is a huge advantage (Wagner et al., 2009). The dorsally directed eye of D. longipes is lens-based and tubular, which functions to silhouette dark organisms against the low level of sunlight, whereas the ventrally facing reflective diverticulum detects bioluminescent sources below the fish (Land, 2000). D. longipes has unusual image-forming vertebrate eyes that forms an image by reflection. This shows that image formation in vertebrates is not limited to refraction, even though most vertebrates took the same evolutionary pathway (Wagner et al., 2009).

infernalis have two dorsal fins on its mantle that are used for swimming in addition to their jet propulsion locomotive ability, but its low metabolism and weaker musculature does not allow for long distances. While it cannot change colours, this animal is covered with photophores, with the larger and more complex ones at the tips of the arms and at the base of its fins, which contributes to its bioluminescent ability. When turned off, the animal is invisible in the dark waters, and when the photophores are turned on, V. infernalis have the ability to modulate the intensity of the light and create patterns by moving its arms, confusing predators or attracting prey. When threatened, this animal can spread its webbed arms over its head and mantle, a position known as the “pineapple posture”. This protects the animal’s head and mantle from injury, can fool predators into thinking it’s a different animal, and its black underside allows it to blend in to the inky sea depths. In lieu of an ink sac, it can also eject a luminescent mucous cloud from the tips of its arms to escape predators.

c) Plant: Eusmilia Fastigiata lives in marine habitat near the shore and with a depth of 1-65m. On patch reefs, fringing reefs, bank reefs it occurs within the range of 3-30m. Eusmilia Fastigiata has a food habit of a invertivore. Global range of this plant is found in United States, Florida.

This section provides a brief description of the biology and life history of Lithobates aerolatus (see Vanessa for a thorough review). Crawfish frogs are known to be solitary and secretive animals inhabiting crayfish burrows for most of the year (Hoffman et. al., 2010; Heemayer et. al. 2012). They have a patchy distribution in the south-central United States (Conant and Collins, 1991) and are listed as state-endangered or rare species in six of 12 states in which it occurs (IUCN REDLISt).Crawfish frogs breed from March to April in ephemeral, temporary, and seasonal wetlands usually in open grasslands but occasionally in wooded